The Monitor reported the hotel has been hosting Texas Department of Public Safety officials and State Troopers dispatched to the border by Gov. Rick Perry as well as National Guard troops. The Monitor also reports the hotel is hiring, doing renovations and, while still for sale is asking for $700,000 more than the $3.8 million price agreed to just last month by the federal contractor, BCFS, to buy the hotel to house illegal alien children.

“Now, weeks after those plans were scrapped, it’s a temporary home to DPS troopers in town as part of a border surge and Texas National Guard troops here for an annual border health program.

“Hotel management generally declined to be interviewed for this story, but confirmed Friday they have 175 rooms reserved for the DPS and National Guard personnel. DPS has been coming and going weekly.

“Meanwhile, the hotel has been working on renovations that include improving the grounds and updating the pool. It is also hiring some staff.

“Real estate broker Sally Fraustro Guerra called high occupancy at the hotel a good thing and said she had another party interested in possibly buying the property, which is listed at $4.5 million. ““We still have it on the market for sale, since the other one fell through, as you know — as the whole nation knows,” she said.

“Palm Aire employees described themselves as trying to move forward with a sense of normalcy after fallout when nonprofit group BCFS announced last month it was planning to purchase the hotel for $3.8 million to replace its Harlingen facility for young immigrants.”

The Monitor quotes Weslaco Mayor David Suarez as being glad the Palm Aire Hotel and Suites will remain a hotel, “I’d like to see it continue being used for lodging. It’s always been there and it’s always been iconic with Weslaco — the Palm Aire.”